50 Greatest NFL Players of All Time
The 50 greatest American football players in history.
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The 50 greatest American football players in history.
Tom Brady
The greatest quarterback in NFL history — seven Super Bowl championships with two different franchises.
7× Super Bowl
Jerry Rice
The greatest wide receiver — and by most measures the greatest player — in NFL history, whose work ethic, route-running and production set r
Super Bowl Champion 3x (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
Jim Brown
The greatest running back in NFL history — Jim Brown retired at the peak of his powers at 29, having never missed a game, and left a statist
NFL Champion 1964
Lawrence Taylor
The most dominant defensive player in NFL history — changed how the linebacker position was played.
2× Super Bowl
Peyton Manning
Five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion — Peyton Manning is the most cerebral quarterback in NFL history, a player who effectivel
2× Super Bowl
Walter Payton
Sweetness — Walter Payton was the most complete running back in NFL history, combining 16,726 rushing yards (the record when he retired) wit
1× Super Bowl
Joe Montana
Four-time Super Bowl champion who never threw an interception in Super Bowl play.
Super Bowl Champion 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990 (San Francisco 49ers)
Reggie White
The Minister of Defense — Reggie White's 198 career sacks is the NFL's all-time record, achieved through a combination of God-given athletic
1× Super Bowl
Johnny Unitas
The architect of modern quarterback play — Johnny Unitas threw touchdown passes in 47 consecutive games between 1956 and 1960, a record cons
0× Super Bowl
Dick Butkus
The most feared middle linebacker in NFL history — Dick Butkus set the standard for defensive play in the modern game and was voted to eight
8x Pro Bowl
Barry Sanders
The most elusive runner in NFL history — Barry Sanders retired at 29 with 15,269 rushing yards, just 1,458 short of Walter Payton's all-time
0× Super Bowl
Emmitt Smith
NFL's all-time leading rusher — three Super Bowl championships with the Dallas Cowboys.
3× Super Bowl
Randy Moss
The most physically gifted wide receiver in NFL history — whose combination of 4.25 speed, 6ft 4in frame and elite hands produced the most d
0× Super Bowl
Aaron Rodgers
Four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion — the most accurate deep passer in NFL history.
1× Super Bowl
John Elway
The Drive — John Elway led the most famous comeback in NFL Championship history in 1987, before winning back-to-back Super Bowls to close a
Super Bowl XXXII XXXIII Champion
Steve Young
The most accurate passer in NFL history — Steve Young's perfect 112.8 passer rating in 1994 led the San Francisco 49ers to a dominant Super
Super Bowl XXIX Champion and MVP
Deion Sanders
Prime Time — the only athlete in history to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series, Deion Sanders was the most gifted cornerback the N
2× Super Bowl
Brett Favre
The Iron Man of quarterbacking — Brett Favre's 297 consecutive starts from 1992 to 2010 is the most remarkable consecutive games streak at t
1× Super Bowl
Patrick Mahomes
The greatest quarterback of his generation — three-time Super Bowl champion and MVP who redefined what is possible from the position with hi
4× Super Bowl
Anthony Muñoz
The greatest offensive lineman in NFL history — the standard for the position.
Super Bowl XVI,XXIII
Ronnie Lott
The most feared hitter in NFL history — had the tip of a finger amputated rather than miss the 1985 season, and won four Super Bowls as the
Super Bowl Champion 4x (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
Jessica Mendoza
America's most influential female sports broadcaster — two-time Olympic softball medallist who became the first woman to serve as a regular
Olympic Gold 2004
Adrian Peterson
All Day — holder of the NFL single-game rushing record and one of the most powerful runners in history.
0× Super Bowl
Drew Brees
New Orleans' greatest ever player — holder of the NFL's all-time passing yards record at retirement.
1× Super Bowl
LaDainian Tomlinson
LT — holder of the NFL single-season touchdown record with 28, the greatest Charger in franchise history.
0× Super Bowl
Marshall Faulk
The most complete running back in NFL history — the only player to score touchdowns, rush and receive at elite levels simultaneously.
1× Super Bowl
Von Miller
Denver Broncos linebacker and Super Bowl MVP whose speed off the edge, athleticism and leadership formed the backbone of Denver's 2015 champ
5× Pro Bowl
Rob Gronkowski
The greatest tight end in NFL history — four-time Super Bowl champion and the most dominant blocker-receiver at the position.
4× Super Bowl
Travis Kelce
The greatest tight end in NFL history — three-time Super Bowl champion whose route-running, receiving ability and clutch performances have r
4× Super Bowl
Joe Namath
Broadway Joe — the quarterback who guaranteed Super Bowl III victory for the New York Jets over the heavily favoured Baltimore Colts and del
1× Super Bowl
Eli Manning
Two-time Super Bowl MVP who beat Tom Brady and the Patriots twice — the ultimate big-game quarterback.
2× Super Bowl
Alan Page
The first defensive player to win the NFL MVP award — Alan Page's extraordinary athletic ability and football intelligence made him the fine
NFL MVP 1971 (first defensive player)
Otto Graham
The most consistently winning quarterback in pro football history — Otto Graham led Cleveland to a championship game in each of his ten prof
AAFC Champion 4x
Ray Lewis
The greatest middle linebacker of the modern era — two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the defensive leader of two Baltimore Raven
Super Bowl XXXV MVP
Ben Roethlisberger
Two-time Super Bowl champion and Pittsburgh's greatest modern quarterback.
2× Super Bowl
Dan Fouts
The architect of the Air Coryell offence — transformed passing statistics in the early 1980s.
Pro Bowl 6x
Dan Marino
The most purely gifted passer in NFL history — whose quick release, vision and arm talent set records in 1984 that stood for two decades, de
0× Super Bowl
O.J. Simpson
2,003 yards in 1973 — the first 2,000-yard season, before the murder trial changed everything.
NFL MVP 1973
Franco Harris
The Immaculate Reception — the most famous play in NFL history, and four Super Bowl rings as the workhorse back of the Pittsburgh Steelers d
Super Bowl IX X XIII XIV Champion
Earl Campbell
The Tyler Rose — the most powerful running back of his era, pure strength and will.
NFL MVP 3x (1978,1979,1980)
Ozzie Newsome
Hall of Fame Cleveland Browns tight end who defined graceful receiving at the position and later became the Baltimore Ravens' esteemed gener
7× Pro Bowl
Darrelle Revis
Hall of Fame New York Jets cornerback whose shutdown coverage was so dominant that opposing teams simply refused to throw to his side, earni
7× Pro Bowl
Bruce Matthews
Tennessee Titans Hall of Fame offensive lineman who played 19 seasons and was selected to 14 Pro Bowls, excelling at every position on the o
14× Pro Bowl
Champ Bailey
Hall of Fame Denver Broncos cornerback whose exceptional coverage, athleticism and nine Pro Bowl selections established him as one of the gr
9× Pro Bowl
J.J. Watt
The greatest defensive player of the 21st century — five-time Defensive Player of the Year whose combination of pass-rushing, run-stopping a
9× Pro Bowl
Terry Bradshaw
Four Super Bowl rings — the quarterback of the Steel Curtain dynasty.
Super Bowl 4x
Shannon Sharpe
Hall of Fame tight end whose trash talk, athleticism and relentless motor made him one of the most entertaining and dominant tight ends of t
6× Pro Bowl
Ray Nitschke
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame middle linebacker nicknamed 'The Assassin' whose fierce play and leadership were at the heart of the famous L
6× Pro Bowl
John Hannah
New England Patriots Hall of Fame guard widely considered the greatest offensive lineman in NFL history, whose aggressive blocking style and
10× Pro Bowl
Ted Hendricks
Hall of Fame Raiders linebacker nicknamed 'The Mad Stork' whose outstanding athleticism allowed him to rush the passer, cover receivers and
5× Pro Bowl